Eight things booksellers would like self-published authors to know

Self-published authors are sometimes ill-prepared or don’t know what to expect when they approach booksellers about selling their titles, signing events, policy, etc. To be successful in pitching their books to booksellers, self-published authors should have a sense of the resources available to booksellers, what is appealing to them, and how to approach them. Here are eight things booksellers would like self-published authors to know.

Making sure your title is available for bookstores to order is an important first step

Bookstores don’t have access to all titles, and corporate stores like Barnes and Noble can’t sell your title unless it’s in its system and available from one of its distributors. Independent bookstores are much more likely to accept copies you bring from home, but each one is different, so it’s important to do some preliminary research. The more available your book is, the easier it will be to make sales.

Indeed. One of the biggest downfalls of self-published books that I’ve noticed is the price. As the article points out, “Traditionally published trade paperbacks usually run from $9.99 to $14.99, whereas I’ve seen self-published trade paperbacks anywhere from $15 to $30.” Most self-published books are priced too high. When you take into account shipping and handling, self-published books can be out of reach for many readers.